Blanca Peak Climber's Log

Viewing: 21-40 of 178
blueshade

blueshade - Jul 30, 2015 1:35 am Date Climbed: Jul 23, 2015

Traverse + Ellingwood  Sucess!

First 14ers on the year. Little Bear via the Hourglass, the Traverse, then over to Ellingwood and down the ridge- all around the cirque! The Traverse is not nearly as bad as it's made out to be.

Alan Ellis

Alan Ellis - Sep 16, 2014 2:15 pm Date Climbed: Aug 5, 2014

Love the view  Sucess!

Climbed with my son! Weather moved in before we could do the combo. Love that road in my Jeep!

Hyadventure

Hyadventure - Sep 2, 2014 8:59 pm Date Climbed: Jun 29, 2014

Traverse from Ellingwood Point  Sucess!

Stayed high on the ridge as much as I could. Fun scramble up from the notch.

technicolorNH

technicolorNH - Aug 28, 2014 9:54 am Date Climbed: Aug 16, 2014

2nd attempt  Sucess!

Six hours and twenty five minutes to the summit from where I parked on Lake Como Road about a half mile upslope from Rt 150. My Scion couldn't get far on that beast of a road so my start was at 340 AM. I bagged Ellingwood directly after. Eleven hours and forty five minutes door to door on a bright, beautiful day. First attempt I got snowed off on September 14th of 2011.

csmcgranahan

csmcgranahan - Jan 18, 2014 8:40 pm Date Climbed: Sep 1, 2013

Day climb w/ Ellingwood  Sucess!

Started at 8,800' at about 2:30am and summited both Blanca and Ellingwood Point. Long but very rewarding day.

astroclimber

astroclimber - Jul 6, 2013 9:29 pm Date Climbed: Jul 21, 2011

Lake Como  Sucess!

Also Ellingwood Pt. with Dave and Kat on a very warm day

Sarah Simon

Sarah Simon - Jul 6, 2013 5:26 pm Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2013

Lake Como with Ellingwood  Sucess!

Saw three bighorn rams on the approach through the lakes. The upper basin is incredibly beautiful. It was surprisingly cold for July, I climbed from the saddle to the summit in my lightweight down jacket! Simply amazing views from the top, and Ellingwood looks inviting, if surprisingly sinister, from Blanca.

Senad Rizvanovic

Senad Rizvanovic - Jul 6, 2013 11:29 am Date Climbed: Jul 5, 2013

Blanca/ Ellingwood   Sucess!

Beautiful approach to the base of Blanca Peak, hiking to the top was easy and fun, great views from the top. Hiking Lake Como Road is long and brutal adventure but once you are at Lake Como, everything pays off, amazing area.

jainman09

jainman09 - Feb 25, 2013 2:57 am Date Climbed: Jun 28, 2005

First 14er  Sucess!

Beautiful approach.

williama3 - Jan 27, 2013 10:28 pm Date Climbed: Jun 4, 2012

Good Times!  Sucess!

Summit

Fletch

Fletch - Dec 28, 2012 3:22 pm Date Climbed: Jul 22, 2011

I was...  Sucess!

with a crew trailbuilding. Nice few days out...

milan - Oct 21, 2012 5:14 pm Date Climbed: Aug 29, 2010

4th tallest in Colorado  Sucess!

The hike to Lace Como is not very nice, we took full backpacks and it was long. The area is gorgeous. Blanca is beautiful and traverse to Ellingwood Poin is a nice spicy ridge.

WillieCornett

WillieCornett - Oct 14, 2012 1:09 am Date Climbed: Jun 10, 2007

Beautiful  Sucess!

Great trip with my friend Clark.

Diggler

Diggler - Oct 1, 2012 8:02 pm Date Climbed: Jul 16, 2012

What a mountain!  Sucess!

7.10.’12: Little Bear-Blanca traverse (finally!)- Left Little Bear's summit @ 10.33. Booked it, as clouds all around (didn't seem threatening, but didn't want them to evolve to that). Quite the aerobic climb, & great fun! Arrived @ Blanca's summit @ 11.50 => 1:17 total. Magnificent climb, great time!
Left summit @ 12.06 & descended NW face. Back @ car @ 8,000’ @ 17.19 (=> 11:27 c2c). What a day!!

7.16.'12: Ormes' Buttress ascent, w/ Faith; descent via Gash Ridge
Left campsite @ 4.51, TH (10,470’) @ 5.08. Started climb (Ormes' Buttress) @ 7.30.

First pitch loose 4th. Second pitch & on mostly 4th & easy 5th, frequently broken & loose, & interspersed by grassy ledges. Three or 4 sections of 5.6- 2nd pitch (the way we did it, at least) the crux- traverse to L, needed to get over overhang, comprised of detached blocks/flakes that seemed like great handholds (+ pro’ behind where detached, but also seemed like ready to come off if pulled or loaded (cam expanding). Freaky shit. Unroped in middle of climb for ~200’, & simul’ed last 400’ (4th -> easy 5th). On upper ‘prow,’ went to L to avoid difficulties (possible on many sections of the climb), as weather iffy.

Pro’ tiny (.1) -> #3 Camalot- as mostly parallel-sided cracks, nuts not very useful. Could’ve maybe used a 3.5). As rock compact, pro’ frequently scarce (anchors also sometimes difficult), as cracks infrequent.

Summited @ 13.23. Fun climb, but rock variability, & ledges decreased value somewhat. Still glad to have finally done!

After Ormes Buttress ascent, descended Gash Ridge. Exposed, fairly straightforward, & FUN! Rock quality fairly good- better than Ormes. Roach right on- mostly sustained 4th, with a few easy 5th sections. Belayed F through a few exposed sections.

Left summit @ 13.43. Unfortunately, went down wrong gully (should have climbed up & over (300’?) last uprising. Our descent was a shitty LOOSE gully that led to a talus/scree field that cliffed out. Dropped bag w/ pro’ in it & prolonged rain/hail only added to the fun. Attempt to get off when valley below SO tantalizingly close unbelievably vexing. F’s break-down only added to the seriousness. Did 3 rap’s. Last one, off a boulder that took one of my cordelettes, finally got to the ground @ 20.30. Final march thru driving rain put us back at the TH @ 22.13. FULL-VALUE day! Running heater for ½ hour, dry clothes, & chili SO good (couldn’t even tie laces before- fingers useless!). Epic day.

djkest

djkest - Aug 28, 2012 5:47 pm Date Climbed: Jun 17, 2012

Blanca Peak- From Ellingwood  Sucess!

Did Ellingwood Point via SW ridge and traversed to Blanca Peak from an overnight camp above Lake Como. Saw some bighorn sheep.

MissH

MissH - Aug 25, 2012 12:13 pm Date Climbed: Aug 24, 2012

Blanca-out  Sucess!

Started 8650' day before. Camped at Lake Como. Thunder storm (with hail) ruined dinner time. Watched the fog roll in on the early morning start. Beautiful views from summit when fog allowed it. Great trip.

Woodie Hopper

Woodie Hopper - Aug 5, 2012 1:52 am Date Climbed: Aug 4, 2012

Little Bear-Blanca traverse  Sucess!

Climbed via the traverse from Little Bear. Classic.

lilmantis

lilmantis - Jul 8, 2012 10:31 pm Date Climbed: Jul 15, 2011

With Orion  Sucess!

My dates are all wrong probably but I forgot to sign the log last year. What an awesome climb with beautiful exposure though! Perfect weather too.

CWFry

CWFry - Jul 1, 2012 9:41 pm Date Climbed: Jun 30, 2012

Beautiful  Sucess!

Long day. Hiked from close to Hwy 150 to peak. Endless rocks on the road, so wear solid footwear. Hiked with MCR. Beautiful scenery and ultimately well worth the effort.

mjholmes

mjholmes - Mar 12, 2012 8:07 pm Date Climbed: Aug 4, 1979

Looooong Approach  Sucess!

Walked the road as we did not have a capable 4X4 and it was a very long day, but worth it.

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